Latency is the delay from the time a user sends a message to the time they receive a response after the message has been processed by a computer. It is measured in milliseconds and is a key indicator of the speed and performance of a computer network.
Latency is affected by a variety of factors, including network traffic, physical distance between computers, and software and hardware processing speed. In general, the farther apart two computers are and the more devices that pass the message along, the higher the latency will be. This is why latency can vary greatly depending on the location of the computer and the type of connection being used.
One of the most common uses of latency is in online gaming where low latency is very important for providing smooth performance. Online gaming servers measure the latency of each player to ensure a smooth experience. Latency can also be used to diagnose network issues, optimizing and smoothing out the performance of a large network.
Latency is an important concept to understand for any computer user, as it can affect the performance of online applications and services, making them either fast or slow. In some scenarios, it is important for the latency to be as low as possible, while in others, it is less of a concern. Identifying and understanding latency is an important step in maintaining a well-performing computer network.
